EXCLUSIVE: Viaplay will document the troubled history of pop group Ace of Base, one of Sweden’s most successful pop bands of all time.
Everything She Wants: The Unbelievable Story of Ace of Base will air as a three-part documentary series on the Nordic streamer next year, featuring never-before-seen personal footage filmed during the group’s most tumultuous years.
Ace of Base is Sweden’s third most popular musical export of all time, behind ABBA and Roxette, but behind closed doors things were difficult, with group member Ulf Ekberg facing death threats from right-wing extremists, performing wearing a bulletproof vest and hiring bodyguards during world tours, while Jenny Berggren suffered a traumatic attack from a German fan in her home. The band achieved global fame with huge hits like ‘All That She Wants’ and ‘The Sign’, while their 1993 album ‘Happy Nation’ is still the most successful Swedish debut in history, kickstarting the worldwide Swedish pop phenomenon.
“Documentaries about artists and groups can be quite polished and selective,” Ekberg said. “This series, however, is honest and is as much about successes as it is about challenges. By showing never-before-seen material from the 90s, viewers will have the chance to experience our history in a new way.”
The series is one of the first to be announced since Viaplay drastically changed its originals strategy following the sudden dismissal of its CEO. Previously, the company greenlit one TV series or scripted film per week, but has focused on “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content in the wake of the economic downturn.
